Engineering Propulsion Standards Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM)

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This is a Special Notice and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take action in this matter.

Background:

Previous major NASA human rated spaceflight programs, such as Apollo, Space Shuttle, ISS, etc., have typically used detailed program-specific statements of work and end-item specifications to relay many of the critical propulsion system design, analysis, inspection, and test requirements that control catastrophic hazards. As a result, these documents were the only place where many propulsion system requirements resided. In addition, those documents do not necessarily capture requirements that are based on recent lessons learned related to potential catastrophic hazards that have been uncovered late in the development or flight operational phase of a program, which results in impacts to safety, launch delays, and costs. It is in the interest of this situation, that a new comprehensive human-rated spacecraft propulsion system standard, generically applicable to many different types of spacecraft missions, has been identified as a need.

To support this goal, existing NASA, military, and other aerospace industry technical standards have been reviewed and assessed for applicability and gaps related to propulsion system requirements, and for the capture of lessons learned. In addition, inputs from propulsion system subject matter experts across the agency were obtained. This information was then used to develop a comprehensive human-rated spacecraft propulsion system standard that imposes applicable existing standards, clarifies points of confusion, resolves conflicts, and identifies new requirements needed to fill specific gaps necessary to control catastrophic hazards in propulsions systems.

The recent shift toward working with multiple commercial partners has proven beneficial to human spaceflight overall. This new propulsion system standard allows for many different spacecraft propulsion system design solutions and focuses on controlling catastrophic hazards with specific rationale and references to publicly available lessons learned. A matrix for tailoring the document is also provided. To date, this document has only been reviewed by NASA subject matter experts across the agency. As such, industry review and feedback are desired to improve the technical content.

Purpose:

NASA JSC Engineering Directorate (EA), Propulsion and Power Division (EP), Propulsion Systems Branch (EP4) invites industry to attend a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) regarding this new propulsion system standard for NASA and Industry. NASA will outline best practices and lessons learned over decades of human rated spacecraft propulsion experience that are expected to be followed by industry to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective propulsion systems. The discussion will cover the existing applicable technical standards, along with critical clarifications and gaps associated with those standards. Additionally, NASA is requesting industry feedback on the following documents:

1. JSC-67723 Standard for the Control of Catastrophic Hazards in Human–Rated Spacecraft Propulsion Systems, rev Basic (pdf word document)


2. Lessons Learned and Gaps in Standards Related to Controlling Catastrophic Hazards for Human Spacecraft Propulsion Systems (companion pdf PowerPoint presentation document)

The JSC-67723-Propulsion-Standard.xls response form should be submitted to NASA-JSC EP4 Propulsion Technical Discipline Lead (TDL), Eric Hurlbert, via email at eric.a.hurlbert@nasa.gov. Response forms are due on or before June 30th (5:00pm central time). Opportunities for virtual one-on-one sessions may be requested by industry. Details for those sessions will be developed after the receipt of the request.

This event supports NASA’s effort to maintain open communication with the private sector that could aid in the development of safe, reliable, and innovative human-rated spacecraft propulsion capabilities.

NASA reserves the right to share all information received in response to this TIM with all NASA Engineering organizations and other NASA program stakeholders, and will consider all information submitted in response to this exchange for incorporation into a future revision of the new propulsion standard, JSC-67723. All inputs will be kept anonymous from other responders.

No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on SAM.gov. Interested firms are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

Attendance:

This TIM will be VIRTUAL ONLY attendees. Please RSVP with all participants information to be sent a meeting invitation and link.

Location:

• Microsoft Teams

Date and Time:

• June 13, 2025 – 9:00am to 12:00pm Central Time

Registration:

Interested parties are required to RSVP by submitting a request to the following email address: jsc-dl-prop-std-TIM-rsvp@mail.nasa.gov with the subject line:

• “RSVP to NASA Propulsion Standards TIM– (INSERT COMPANY NAME)”.

Please submit only one registration request per company/organization no later than 4:00 pm Central time on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Please include the following information in the registration request:

1. Company/Organization Name:


2. Company Point of Contact:
   
   
   
   1. name,
   
   
   2. position/title,
   
   
   3. email address and,
   
   
   4. phone number.
   
   
   
   


3. List of People attending in-person by name, title, and email.

Attachments/Links